Pierre: Shooting suspect appears in court

February 18, 2009

A 38-year-old Onida man made his first court appearance Tuesday on charges he killed his wife. A grand jury indicted Herman Kleinsasser Jr. on alternate counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree manslaughter. He did not enter a plea Tuesday. Sharon Kleinsasser, 36, was found shot to death Jan. 29 in the couple's home. Authorities called it a murder-attempted suicide and say a shotgun was used. Herman Kleinsasser was found injured in the home and taken to a Rapid City hospital. He was released from the hospital and taken to the county jail in Pierre. Prosecutors says three of the couple's six children testified at last week's grand jury hearing. A Pierre lawyer, Wade Reimers, has been appointed to represent Kleinsasser. The prosecutors are Robert Mayer of the state attorney general's office and Emily Sovell, the Sully County state's attorney. Another court hearing is planned for Monday before Circuit Judge Lori Wilbur. Kleinsasser is being held on $500,000 bond in the Hughes County Jail.